The Safest Places to Stay in Oaxaca City
When visiting Mexico, one of the top concerns on most people’s minds is: safety. Two of my personal favorite Mexican regions with regard to safety are the Yucatan & Oaxaca; & I’ve written extensively about both (this article specifically discusses safety in the Oaxaca region). I traveled solo in both places, even rented a car in the Yucatan & drove all over the peninsula for a week, & had zero issues or concerns. In this article, we’ll take a look at “The Safest Places to Stay in Oaxaca,” with a focus on hotels that are in the heart of downtown & walkable to most major sites & squares.
I traveled solo to Oaxaca, & found it a laid-back & wonderful place for solo travel. In this article, we’ll take a look at two of the family-run, boutique hotels I stayed in, as well as some of the other great, safe hotels in downtown Oaxaca City.
Charming, colorful, & courtyards ~ that’s how I would describe Oaxaca’s hotels in just three words!
The Casa Carmen Morelos is hip & stylish, but a little pricier than other boutique hotels in town & a little further from the action.
The Safest Places to Stay in Oaxaca City
I’m breaking the safest hotels in Oaxaca into two categories: boutique hotels under $200/night (of which there are many in the city) & high-end, luxury hotels over $200/night (of which there are just a few). As you’ll see in the photos below, hotel layouts typically involve rooms set around central courtyards, usually behind a locked-gate at night, ensuring a very safe & relaxing environment.
***If there are stars next to the hotel name, it means that I’ve previously stayed there.
Casa Oaxaca is one of the city’s only true luxury hotels, with a high-end yet understated feel set amidst beautiful traditional Spanish architecture.
Best Family-Run, Boutique Hotels in Oaxaca City
- **Hotel Casa Vertiz ($62+): An elegant boutique hotel located directly behind Templo de Santo Domingo, with its own quiet courtyard restaurant & a rooftop terrace overlooking the city & Templo. My room here was on the small side, & yet it had every amenity I needed & plenty of room for all my stuff.
- **NaNa Vida Hotel ($82+): This is a wonderful, family-run boutique hotel that I stayed in when I first arrived in Oaxaca; rooms are tastefully decorated & the bathrooms are modern & roomy, all centered around a large central courtyard. Their staff is wonderful & can help you set up any kind of tour you’re looking for.
- Hotel Parador San Miguel Oaxaca ($85+): This colorful orange building invites you into a warm & festive environment, with comfortable rooms decorated in bright textiles, organized around a lovely courtyard. Located caddy-corner from Oaxaca’s main cathedral in a near-perfect location, next to all kinds of shops & restaurants.
- Casa Carmen Morelos ($197+): Hip & modern boutique hotel that’s a little pricier than the previous ones, & also a little further from the center of town & cathedrals (about six blocks).
- El Callejon Hotel Boutique ($173+): If you don’t mind being slightly further from the center of town (about a 15-minute walk), this is a sexy, stylish place to stay for a romantic getaway. I’d recommend El Callejon more for couples than for solo travelers. Plus, they have a secure garage if you’re traveling with a car.
- Casa de Sierra Azul Oaxaca ($124+): Back in the heart of town, just two blocks from the Zocalo, is the lovely Casa de Sierra Azul. Set in a 19th-century mansion, they may have my favorite courtyard of all, with its magical fountain & plenty of fauna. Rooms are modern yet traditional Oaxacan, & spa treatments are available here as well.
- Hotel Parador de Alcala ($75+): If you’re looking for a rooftop pool in Oaxaca ~ look no further. Set in an 18th-century building with simple, modern rooms & a great breakfast & restaurant on-site. Parking here isn’t great though; street-only, as it’s so close to Templo de Santo Domingo.
The Hotel Parador de Alcala has one of the only rooftop pools in town, & a fantastic location between the Zocalo & Templo de Santo Domingo, as well as the Botanical Gardens.
Where I’ve Personally Stayed & Loved….
Step into Casa Vertiz’s cool courtyard & be transported away from the bustle of the city; head to their rooftop for city views.
Colorful art in both the rooms & central courtyard distinguish the Nana Vida from other boutique hotels in Oaxaca, as does their special & personalized parting gift…
Photos of Boutique Hotels in Oaxaca City
If you love COLOR & bright local textiles: stay at the Hotel Parador San Miguel Oaxaca.
Sexy & stylish, with a private parking garage ~ makes El Callejon ideal for couples traveling with a car.
My favorite courtyard in Oaxaca: at the Casa Sierra de Azul.
The Safest Places to Stay in Oaxaca City
Best Luxury Hotels in Oaxaca City
- Casa Oaxaca ($338+): There are only seven rooms set in this Colonial Spanish house, & they’re beautifully yet simply decorated with traditional Oaxacan textiles. Located two blocks from Templo de Santo Domingo, with a pool & excellent dining on-site.
The prettiest rooms in town: at the seven-room Casa Oaxaca.
- Quinta Real ($215+): If you love history & historic buildings ~ check out Quinta Real. Set in a 16th-century former Dominican convent with a perfect location in the heart of town, the walls are alive with history here….& one of the most beautiful gardens in town, plus a lovely pool.
If you’re looking for a building steeped in history: check into the 16th-century former Dominican Convent: now the upscale Quinta Real.
- Casa Carmen Reforma ($209+/night): Not to be confused with Casa Carmen Morelos (same owners), this is a high-end, boutique hotel located on the north-east side of Templo de Santo Domingo, next to El Llano Park. Rooms have a trendy, Southwest-inspired vibe, & with only four rooms ~ attention to detail is high. If you’re looking for quaint & cozy, yet luxurious: this is your spot.
Casa Carmen Reforma is the cousin to Casa Carmen Morelos: but with a better location & amazingly artful decor.
The Safest Hotels in Oaxaca City
xoxo Noelia
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